ISLAMABAD (From Rizwan Abbasi): Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has said in an exclusive interview with ABN that the PPP’s short-term rule in Azad Kashmir was a difficult and delicate phase, but we handled the situation with political insight and responsibility.
He said that the welfare and interests of the people in Azad Kashmir are paramount and the government will continue to serve the people in the best possible manner.
The Prime Minister said that in the past, when the political situation deteriorated, the people themselves would take to the streets, while the federal government visited Azad Kashmir three times, but the state government could not maintain control over matters.
Previous Govt Wrongly Considered a Coalition Government
Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said that the previous government was wrongly considered a coalition government, although in reality it was a government of elected MLAs.
He said that in the previous setup, political workers had distanced themselves from their parties, but as soon as the new political structure was formed, the workers rejoined their parties.
The government restored public relations and raised the issues that were the real priorities of the people.
The Prime Minister said that the state’s temperature is not the same as before, and the government will not let the situation deteriorate again.
However, if the people feel that their representatives are not raising their voice, then the protests may resurface. An effective role will be played at the political, public, and government levels to resolve the problems.
He said that the upcoming election will be a tough contest between the PPP and the PML-N.
The two parties are allies at the centre, but a friendly opposition is not possible in Azad Kashmir. The politics of Azad Kashmir are completely different from Punjab and Sindh, and the traditional political competition between the PPP and the PML-N has always existed.
Consultation Underway btw Govt & Opposition
The Prime Minister said that consultations are underway between the government and the opposition on neutral names for the Election Commission. Important consultations regarding the appointment were held in a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition yesterday.
The names of former bureaucrats and former judges are under consideration, but a final decision has not been taken yet. He said that the aim of the early appointment of the Election Commission is to hold free, transparent, and impartial elections. Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said that general elections are expected in Azad Kashmir in the next six months.
The PPP holds a strong position in 30 out of 33 constituencies, while important leaders of various parties have rejoined the party, and more are expected.
Discussing social and administrative issues, he said that the good initiatives of the previous government will be continued, while unnecessary decisions will be eliminated. The health card was suspended without any reason; it has been restored.
The long-standing issue of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir bank schedule is also moving towards resolution. The budget has been prioritized in such a way that health services can be functional. He said that action was taken against powerful groups like the tobacco and timber mafia in the previous government.
No kind of blackmail will be accepted, and all mafias will be brought under the law. The government is taking immediate steps to improve the economy.
Regarding the major demands of the Action Committee regarding the abolition of refugee seats, the Prime Minister said that no decision has been taken yet, and the relevant committee is working. No decision will be taken in haste; political consensus is necessary.
He said that the call of the Action Committee on the 16th was given on the issue of a line fault in a specific area, while ISCO and the relevant departments have assured to fix the fault by the 20th.
On the question related to wheat and flour, the Prime Minister said that the supply of wheat from PASSCO is ongoing; however, complaints have come to light in some areas.
The difference of Rs 2,000 per maund in Kashmir is causing black marketing, which is being stopped by strict measures. No decision has been taken yet regarding lifting the closure of flour mills inside Pakistan.
Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said that the government will make every effort to satisfy the people of Azad Kashmir quickly and effectively.
